Q: Where are you from and what did you do before opening
your business?

A: Sue Forrest is from Oklahoma City and her husband, Dale, is
from Texas. They met in Montana at a Bible camp and were married a
year-and-a-half after they met. Dale was a physics major, who ended
up designing lens for telescopes on land and in “space.” He worked
on various items for our nation’s space program. Sue, the director
of A Leap BEYOND Tutoring, taught for 31 years in California with
great concern and excellence in teaching children with special
needs. This concern was increased because their adopted son has
learning challenges that the doctors could not accurately classify
until their son was 38 years old. That diagnosis was Aspergers
Syndrome, the next step above Autistic on the diagnostic spectrum.
At 38 he had problems maintaining an entry-level job.

Then they were introduced to a cognitive training program called
PACE – Processing And Cognitive Enhancement, designed for children.
This program had done wonders with the high-functioning Autistic
son of their friends in California. Sue and Dale later both trained
to become PACE providers.

Q: Why did you open your business in Ahwatukee
Foothills?

A: We could not find a PACE trainer in the entire Valley, but
Sue realized that her PACE training was permanent, and that she
would not need to retrain. I felt I had wasted a great deal of
money becoming a PACE provider. But, we realized that there were
many other children in this area who have learning problems, with
frustrated parents who had nowhere to turn for help. So my focus
changed to helping others, which has been a great joy.

Q: How did you get the idea to open your
business?

A: I had planned to travel a lot and relax when I retired, not
to start a business. However, it has been much better than another
port of call or travel souvenir.

Q: What type of merchandise/services do you
sell?

A: The basic program that we use, called PACE (for Processing
and Cognitive Enhancement), is an intensive cognitive program
designed to help with learning disabilities such as Dyslexia, ADD,
ADHD and Aspergers Syndrome, and others who struggle in school. It
is effective with people of all ages, not just children. Students
preparing to take college entrance tests find it to their great
advantage to take PACE six months to a year before taking the test.
It is helpful for anyone wanting to improve their functioning in
nearly any area of their lives.

Our clients tell us that their family life becomes much more
cohesive and enjoyable. Report cards are no longer a “monster in
waiting.” Homework is accomplished in a reasonable amount of time
and their child is beginning to make friends.

Q: What does your business offer that no one else
does?

A: We currently offer free evaluation that normally cost $150
and takes about two hours. This is to help families find out the
truth about the status of their child. We will find if your child
is not working hard enough, is working too hard, or if they need a
better foundation so they can accomplish their given work. Our goal
is to make life-long learning fun and to bond families and their
child, as usually stress has put a barrier between parent and
child.

Q: How have residents of the community responded to your
business?

A: We have helped many students realize their full cognitive
potential. Parents are thrilled with the results. We have worked
with children struggling at very low levels to gifted students.
After PACE the students begin to regain their self-esteem, enjoy
school much more, have less frustration among their peers, and
begin improving their social life.

Q: Anything else you want the community to know about
you or your business?

A: Students working with a learning disability is like riding a
bicycle with a flat tire. One can help someone riding by holding
onto the “seat” and “pushing” or one can fix the “flat tire” so
that they can ride by themselves with reasonable effort. “Fixing
the flat” is our goal.

For a free evaluation, call (480) 705-0885. Be sure to leave a
message if we are not available at the moment.

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